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Miscellaneous

Having finished a delightful dinner at Yakisoba Yashiki and hashed out the details of a "newspaper" with Shigeaki Tōno, Silver General Ryūzaki Sanosuke suddenly remembered an appointment he could not afford not to keep at The Tanuki's Glee. He was already in Shimonoseki, which was fortunate because Shigeaki Fujino had business to attend to with transport of the Saika Ikki to Ōtsu Castle. Aoki Michiko agreed to go with him, however, seeming to have only just whet her appetite for drink. Tōno, too, weaseled her way into the party given the understanding that Sanosuke would be paying.

Fujino was kind enough to drop the trio off right outside, in the Glee's front lawn, but could not stay any longer than that. When they arrived with their customary pop and flash of light, the door swung open almost immediately. Kono Minoko, the Bakedanuki proprietress, had recognized the telltale signs of teleportation and was most eager to greet Sanosuke in person. He still owed her a show, after all. Given that the previous night he'd vanished without explanation, he probably owed her a bit more than that. Fortunately, Sanosuke's sterling reputation saved him from any true misgivings. He was able to put any drinks his two companions, Michiko and Tōno, might order under his tab as well.   When asked if "she" was within the restaurant, Minoko's face scowled. Indeed, "she" was, although it was unclear which person each was talking about, or even if it was the same "she." Further, the proprietress hinted at the presence of some unsavory types hanging about within. When Sanosuke entered after his companions, he saw what she meant. Near the center of the crowded dining area, at a long table with plenty of open seats, lounged none other than Shōta. On his left side sat Niiro Tadatsuru, hedonistic Daimyō of the Shimazu Clan. To the other was Hōzōin In'ei, whom Sanosuke had previously challenged for the role of Susano'o's chosen, but not yet dueled. All three seemed to be trying to get his attention, but the Silver General excused himself first to rendezvous with his true target: Ryūzōji Ryōka.   The prodigal Ryūzōji was waiting for him in a much quieter alcove off to the side. With a brief greeting, Sanosuke exchanged a few words while his companions settled themselves in. After that, he had little choice but to engage with the others.   Of course, Shōta, Tadatsuru, and In'ei all made every attempt to engage him in conversation at once. The Daimyō wanted to know more about their mutual acquaintance, Aotsuki Tsukamoto, to whom [tootlip: Sanosuke: Elan with Asmodeus +1]Sanosuke promised to put in a good word[/tooltip] for her. The kensei, of course, had only their promised duel on her mind. She had apparently been offered quite a sizeable sum to leave the province and have nothing else to do with him. Of course, as a loyal devotee of Susano'o, she had refused the money. When Sanosuke mentioned that she might have taken it and stayed anyway, the faintest hint of embarrassed color tinged In'ei's ears. He attempted to recover for her, suggesting that she intended to make it all back from betting anyway. The six-armed kensei accepted this explanation as though she'd meant for it all along, grateful for Sanosuke's graceful save.   Shōta, meanwhile, kept interjecting with challenges of his own. If Sanosuke wanted to fight In'ei while they were out together, he'd have to get through Shōta first. Or so he claimed. The Silver General completely ignored all of the gangly youth's accusations and demands, leading the other to grow ever more incensed with his lack of response.   The resolution to that particular thorn would have to wait, however. At about that point, Ryūzaki Sanosuke received urgent correspondence from his own Daimyō, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo. A literal gate to hell had been discovered in Wakigami Castle's basement, Maxim had gone in but not come back out, and it seemed like they were going to need his help with the situation after all. Resigned to ducking out on after-dinner drinks for now, Sanosuke voiced his intent to come, then stood by while Shigeaki Fujino scrambled to get him to Wakigami.